Rockland County Prepares for Blizzard

COUNTY PRESS RELEASE— Rockland County is making preparations today for a blizzard that is expected to bring massive snowfall and high winds through Tuesday night.

“This is going to be a very dangerous storm if it follows the projected path,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. “We are prepared to deal with any emergency.”

The Rockland County Office of Fire and Emergency Services has held several conference calls with state officials to coordinate plans for the storm.

The county’s Emergency Operations Center will be opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday. County government will remain open Tuesday for essential services.

Representatives from the state Department of Transportation and the state police will be stationed in the Rockland Emergency Operations Center for the duration of the storm.

“Please use common sense – high winds and blowing snow will make conditions very hazardous,” the County Executive said. “Don’t go out unless you have to.”

Rockland County Highway Department has been preparing for the storm since Sunday, Superintendent Charles “Skip” Vezzetti said. Applications of an anti-icing agents were put on county roads beginning at 8 a.m. Monday.

“All 24 first-line and three tandem trucks are being put into service,” he said. “All 170 miles of County roads will be kept open for emergency vehicles, with an emphasis on our major (primary) routes during the peak of the storm.”

The county has 4,200 tons of road salt ready to use. Workers in the Highway Department have been told to report for work at 3 a.m. Tuesday.

All trucks and equipment have been fueled, checked and calibrated, Vezzetti said.

Trucks have been pre-loaded and are ready to go from County facilities in Stony Point and Orangetown. Numerous county services have been cancelled as the blizzard approaches.

• TRANSPORTATION:

Transport of Rockland (TOR) and TAPPAN ZEExpress (TZx) bus services will complete service scheduled for Monday but will suspend service by 2 a.m. Tuesday. Service is expected to remain suspended all day Tuesday.

TRIPS Paratransit bus service is cancelled for Tuesday.

TOR, TZx and TRIPS services are anticipated to resume on Wednesday, as conditions allow.
Go to www.rocklandbus.com for service status updates or to sign up to receive text/email service alerts.

•HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH:

Department of Health clinics, including the chest/TB clinic, sexually transmitted Infection clinic, family planning and WIC clinics, have been cancelled. Patients with appointments have been notified that their appointments have been rescheduled. The STI clinic will be open for walk-in visits from 3 – 7 p.m., Thursday. For more information call 845-364-2997

All clinics and non-emergency services offered by the Department of Mental Health have been cancelled for Tuesday. Please call 845-364-2275 for information.

This list will be updated regularly. Please check here or the Rockland County Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rocklandgov/